Arch support



Nov. 2, 1937. vH. L. WHITMAN 2,097,959

ARCH SUPPORT Filed June 3, 1937 /X Ax \3 Patented Nov. 2, 1937 I UNIT-ED STATES PATENT foFFlcE This invention vrelates to arch supports and more particularly to adjustable longitudinal and/or transverse arch supporting means.

In the construction and application of arch V supports, there occurs diiliculty in maintaining" a proper amount of arch elevation on account of changes which mayoccur in a foot itself, or in the shoe from time to time during wear. As a result, it is desirable that a simple adjustment be at hand. Further, in applying or in tting `arches to individual feet, there is need for a more or less flexible range of adjustment adapted to being made use of by shoe'clerks whose knowledge of feet may be to a large extent limited.`

The present device is designed with a composite construction adapted to' provide flexibility of adjustment with correct positioning of the arch occurring at all'times.

The principal object of my invention, therefore, is an improved arch support composed of adjustable layers of material.

Another object is a composite arch support member formed in such a manner" that the arch will alwaysbe correctly positioned regardless of g5 adjustments made therein. e Y

. Anotherl object is a compositearch support havingits various portions `removably associated together witha permanently tacky cement.

Another object isfa composite structure in which the elements are directly contacted with 30 i and support the arch of the foot with a relatively smooth arched contour which may be selectively variedby 'removal or insertion of' individual layersn. Y Another object is a device of the character de'- scribed which may be incorporated lseparately or r as a part of` a footwear.

In the drawing illustrating the invention: Fig.- 1 is a plan view oi" an arch support constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is an `enlarged cross section of a composite arch `(support similar `tothat shown in Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a foot and the improved arch member associated therewith. w v i e Fig. 4 is a cross section taken on the -line i-I of Fig. 3. f

Fig.v5 is a modified type of arch for metatarsal e 50 supporting, and

Fig. 6 is a viewin perspectiveofa shoe partly l broken away and having associated therewith'an l arch support similar to those illustrated in Figs.

65 Referringmore in detail to the drawing, the aisole construction for any type of A row I U indicates generally an arch supporting device made up of a plurality of pieces II. These pieces are, formed in a reversely curved manner to comprise arch supporting areas. The largest piece I2 may be associated with a separate base `or may be directly secured to the sock lining or insole of a shoe. The pieces uniformly decrease in size to form a stepped-up construction roughly conforming to the contour of the arch. The smallest piece Il will occur, when associated with a-foot, along the inner border thereof and will be located directly under the center of the weight distribution of a foot. v l

Inscribedor otherwise indicated on the top of element I 3 is an arrow I4` which is intended to be indicative of that point in the arch supporting device to be located directly under the weight distribution of a foot. If desired, the top piece I3 may be vrounded oiI, or may be kept substantially ilat asshown in Fig. 2. i

The edges I 5 of the various pieces will preferably be skived as shown'inFigs. 2 and 3, to effect `a smoother contour and may also, if desired, be rounded on as illustrated by the tip I6 in Fig. 1 to eifect better bonding of the pieces `structure assembled.` With the use of a type of cement such as this, it` is contemplated that a considerable range -of adjustment in the height of the arch may be effected, as for instance, separate layers may accompany apackaged arch vsupport or layers may be removed from the arch support as it is constituted when shipped, and these pieces preserved for later use when the structure changes during wear.

If desired, any exposed surface covered with the binding agent may be quickly neutralized by the use of a dusting powder which effectively eliminates any undesirable stickiness. l

The top piece I3 will be maintained for the-purpose of locating the. composite body in a shoe and for contacting the smaller and more sensitive regions of a foot archoccurring just beyond the point of attachment of the plantafascia tendon 4.witii'tl'ie bones of the foot. All of the pieces are .remainder of the pieces relative'to the longitudi nal contour of a foot.

The layers may be formed of any desirable material, such as leather, rubber, bre compositions, plastics, and the like, and this material may be, if desired, provided with various color or design effects tending to enhancethe attractiveness and 'ease of adjustment or separation of various pieces. 'I'he material may be such as to mold itself to the shape of the foot or the sole or the material may be of a character adapted to be permanently moulded or set before use.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a shoe I8 in perspective partly broken away to indicate an arch support associated therewith, and it will be noted that a second arrow I5 has been provided on the inside of the shoe I8.

'Ihe location of the arrow I5 occurs, relative to the shoe, just back of the heel front, and, relative to a foot, directly under the highest point of an arch such as that shown in Fig. 3.

By means of arrows I4 and I5 an arch supporting device such as indicated by arrow I0 may always be correctly located in a shoe no matter what its thickness or how the pieces are bonded together. As a result, a shoe clerk or the individual himself is provided with a simple means of making adjustments in elevation until the proper one is found and there isno diiiicuity of maladjustment of the arch support or of the arch support construction getting out of place.

The size and shape of the pieces or layers of material may be varied as for instance with a differing foot condition a change in shape may be found more advantageous.

In the arch illustrated in the drawing, six layers ofy material have been indicated. However. a greater or lesser number of layers may be employed and their thicknesses may be varied. For

instance, composite arches may be supplied having identical longitudinal and transverse dimensions but having diering layer thickness with consequent diering arch'height. Also, it may be desired to supply separate layers being of greater thickness although similar in all other respects to one or more layers of an assembled arch so that no change occurs in regard to the number of layers occurring in the arch but greater arch height is achieved.

The same general principle=of using a permanently tacky bonding agent whereby the layers may be repeatedly torn away and' stuck on again is, adhered to in all of these.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a modiiied type of arch support 2I particularly suited for a metatarsal arch constructed similarly with a permanently taclnr binding -agent I9 made up of a plurality of pieces 2l.

If desired, the construction illustrated in Fig. 1 may be combined with a construction as in Fig. 5 upon a common base not shown, or the two types of arch may be used independently with` equally benecial results.

It is intended that the device may be used in W for attachment to said base, the smallest of said layers forming the apex of said support and being adapted to contact the foot, said layers being detachabiy bonded together by permanently tacky cement to form an arch support for the foot. said layers being of substantially uniform thickness whereby the height of said arched contour may be selectively varied by removal or insertion of individual layers of said material in 20 said support.

2. An arch support for shoes comprising a plurality of graduated layers of material, the largest of said layers forming the bottom of said support and being adapted for attachment to the soie of a shoe, the smallest of said layers forming the apex of said support and being adapted to contact the foot, said layers being detachably bonded together'by a permanently tacky cement to form an arch support for the foot, said layers being of substantially uniform thickness whereby the height of said arched contour may be selectively varied by removal or insertion of individual layers of said material in said support.

3. An arch support for shoes comprising a plurality of graduated layers of material, the largest of said layers forming the bottom of said support and being adapted for attachment to the sole of a shoe. the smallest of said layers forming the apex of said support and being adapted to contact the foot, means located on said apex for iocating same on a shoe at a point directly under the centerof weight distribution of afoot received therein, said layers being detachably bonded together by a permanently tacky cement whereby the height of said arch contour may be selectively varied by removal or insertion of individual layers o f said material in said support.

4. An arch support for shoes comprising a plurality of graduated layers of material, the largest of said layers forming the bottom of said support and being adapted for attachment to the sole of a shoe, the smallest oi" said layers forming the apex of said support and being adapted to contact the foot, means located on said apex cooperating with similar means in a shoe located at a point directly under the center of weight distribution of a foot received therein for locating the apex at the said point. v

5. An arch support for shoes comprising a plurality of graduated layers of material, the largest of said layers forming the bottom oi' said support and being adapted for attachment to the sole of a shoe, the smallest of said layers forming the apex 'of said support, the said layers comprising an arched contour adapted to contact the foot with the highest point of the contour occurring directly under the center of weight distribution of the foot, said layers being detachably bonded together by a permanently tacky cement whereby the height of said arch contour may be selectively varied by removal or insertion of individual layers of said material in said support.

6. An arch support for shoes comprising a plurality of graduated lasers of material disposed thereon in such a manner as to present a gradually receding surface from the inner border to the outer border thereof, the largest of said layers forming the bottom of said support and being adapted for attachment to said base, the smallest of said layers forming the apex of said support and being adapted to contact the foot, said layers being detachably bonded together by permanently tacky cement to form an arch support for the foot, said layers being of substantially uniform thickness whereby the height of said arched contour may be selectively varied by removal or insertion of individual layers of said material `in said support. y

7. A metatarsal arch support for shoes comprising a base and a plurality of graduated layers of tear-shaped material disposed thereon, the largest of said layers forming the bottom of said support and being adapted for attachment to said base, the smallest of said layers forming the apex of said support and being adapted to contact the foot, said layers being detachably bonded together by permanently tacky cement to form an arch support for the foot, said laye'rs being of substantially uniform thickness whereby the height of said arched contour may be selectively varied by removal or insertion of individual layers of said material in said support.

HYMAN L. 

